Verizon Galaxy Nexus FINALLY Gets Android 4.2.2 Update

Verizon has't had the best track record when it comes to rolling out updates for their devices and the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, sadly, has been no exception to this rule. When you consider the fact that Nexus devices are meant to be updated to the latest and greatest versions of Android as soon as Google announce them, Verizon's unwillingness to update is really brought into the spotlight. When we got word from Verizon that an update was coming soon, needless to say we were all excited.

Well it has been a long time coming, but the Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus is finally getting an official 4.2 update, well kind of. Android 4.2.2 is still undergoing 'testing' by Verizon but WinDroidGuy has leaked the OTA update early. To put into perspective how long our brothers and sisters with Verizon Wireless have suffered, GSM users received the update to 4.2 back in mid-November last year, that means Verizon users had to wait for almost four months for an update on what is essentially an identical device and even then it's only a leak.

The jump from 4.1 to 4.2 is incremental, so much so that Google still retained the codename Jelly Bean for 4.2.x versions of Android, but it still does bring on some changes to the user interface, but nothing that should lead to a months long delay when variants of the same device received it a long time ago. That means the only bottleneck in the chain when it comes to updates is Verizon, which may have been one of the reasons why Google decided to omit carriers as much as possible when they released the Nexus 4 which is almost exclusively sold on Google Play. The Nexus 4's lack of 4G LTE could also be attributed to Verizon, since the 4G LTE standard is messy and typically requires cooperation between the manufacturer and carrier in order to produce a phone that utilizes it.

Fortunately WinDroidGuy has posted a download link on his twitter. The download is NOT a stand alone image, but a zip file of the OTA update, so the use of a recovery such as ClockworkMod or TeamWin will be required to install it and users need to be the official 4.1.1 Jelly Bean software before flashing 4.2.2.

Android 4.2.2 brings many new features to those currently running 4.1, including a new keyboard that supports gesture typing, quick toggles in the notification bar and a new camera application with the ability to take a Photo Sphere, which we're sure you've all seen across Google+.

I am a university student with an interest of all things technology, whether it's smartphones, computers, tablets etc. Also an avid Android user, and things that I like to do when not at university or writing articles includes long walks on a beach and shepherding iSheep and hunting iWolves.